MORE LAYOFFS IN JUNE AT SAN ONOFRE POWER PLANT

Cuts part of Edison plan to trim more than 700 jobs

Number of layoffs planned beginning June 3 at Southern California Edison’s plant

The operator of the San Onofre nuclear plant is moving forward with a fourth round of layoffs that began in December in an effort to trim more than 700 employees.

Southern California Edison gave advance notice under federal regulations that it will reduce staff by 250, commencing on June 3. A previous notice documented 100 layoffs starting April 26.

The twin-reactor plant on the northern edge of San Diego County has been shut down since January 2012 because of a small radiation leak and the subsequent discovery of rapid wear on tubing within recently replaced steam generators.

Edison initiated the reorganization before the generator problems emerged, taking cues from more efficient industry peers. The downsizing, the company said last year, has since been adapted to the prolonged outage.

The June layoffs apply to union-represented workers, and could set off a reshuffling of positions as senior union workers claim other positions, a chain reaction sometimes called “bumping.” Edison said bumping right could mean the layoffs affect employees at facilities in Westminster.

Representatives for the Utility Workers Union of America, representing a range of San Onofre workers, could not be reached.

Edison is seeking authorization from safety regulators to restart the Unit 2 reactor as soon as this summer. The Unit 3 reactor has more extensive damage, and plans for its revival remain uncertain.

Edison confirmed on Friday that the cumulative layoffs will affect 730 employees, leave the plant with a staff of roughly 1,500. It remained unclear whether more layoffs are planned after the June round.

In addition to direct employees, Edison pays for hundreds of contract workers at the plant.

Edison’s 2012 annual report included accrued severance costs of $112 million from current and approved reductions in staffing.